, 1887-09-24
A Flock of 800 Are Stampeded
Near Sherman.
A Stray Coyote the Cause of the
C0mmotiOn.
0ne-third of the Herd Lost In the
Mad Rush.
Intelligent Action of a Pair of
Shepherd Dogs.

rrduhs, LII Ine euplOy Oh L. ". Joseph,
who owns a ranch near Sherman, a
LEADER reporter learned the particulars
ola stampede which one of the herds in
dulged in Wednesday afternoon.
1t appears that the men employed
about the ranch were partaking of a meal
at 2 o'clock p. m, and that 800 sheep
were grazing within 1000 yards of the
house.
1t is agreed by the herders that a stray
coyote must certainly have been the cause
fthe trouble, as is sometimes the case.
Be that as it may something certainly
caused the flock to suddenly become i'm
bued with a desire to indulge in a hurried
and aimless flight.
The shepherds were first appraised of
the occurrence by the loud barking of a
pair offaithful dogs which had been left
to watch the flock. These intelligent
creatures must have exercised the reason
ing powers with which many sensible
people steadfastly aver that they are en-
dowed.
So soon as the men learned that the
herd had stampeded and could not be
controlled by its four footed attendants,
they fastened to aid the dumb servants,
and while en- route to the scene of mad
disorder were met by one of the dogs.
The animal acted as if he had come pur.
posely to inform the herders of the I'M
usual state of affairs. Instructive
ly the feet messenger observed that the
men were aware OF the trouble and upon
beholding them at once turned and rapid
ly ran toward the flock.
When the men reached the sheep they
looked upon a scene of disorder, confu-
sion and useless frantic struggling and
consequent loss of life as is witnessed only
upon similar occasions.
The herders knew by experience that
there was but one way to calm the fright
ened and excited animals, and they pro-
ceeded to handle them according to the
method adopted and approved by stock
men wherever cattle Craze.
Approaching the flock in an uncon-
cerned n they began shouting to
the frenzied sheep in the monotonous
tone so well known to herders who have
assisted in reducing dire confusion to
usual order among stampeded animals.
The terrorlzed animals had been run
ming rampant for fully an hour and many
of them were well nigh exhausted. The
herders "milled," them, that is caused
them to move into a compact circle until
the animals wearied and finally halted.
The herd was at once placed in a cor
raj with all e~xpediency possible under the
circumstances The hunters then turned
their attention to the dead, wounded and
dying animals, which are invariably left
in the trail of a stampede.
When a prowling coyote dashed into
that peacefully grazing flock it con.
sisted of just 800 fat sheep. When the
herd was tailed off 500 of the animals
were able to walk through the chute. Per-
haps 100 recovered from the effects of the
terrible dash. The remaining 200 we're
either smothered or ground to death or
SO badly wounded that a blow on the
head with an ak was required to end
their lives of sufferings.
Although among the sheep lost were a
number of graded merino bucks, Mr..
Joseph is not SO unfortunate Jas would
at first appear. His iocks were fully in
sured against such calamities with a Bos-
ton company which max es a speciality of
assuming such risks.
While a cattle stampede is described as
| cident not without decided elements of
danger, it seldom results fatally to the
bovines. The long horned animals will
a scene ofexceptional grandeur, and an in
thunder across the prairies if allowed to.
proceed unmolested until they weary of
an obiectless race, when they will scatter
and again MUNICH the succulent "a nge
grass. Well authenticated incidents are
recorded where cattle have been found
over 100 miles from where they launched
fort hon a wild journey. Cowboys who
understand the business can guide the
course of a stampeded herd when unable
to control them otherwise.
The slightest cause will Outlines suffice
to p~recipitate a dreaded stampede. About
four years e a herd OF beeves held in
Goshen Hole we're crazed by the advent
of a stray antelope. They trayersed the
basin at a remarkable rate of speed, Gov
ering forty miles In less than four hours,
followed by fearless cowboys mounted
upon feet and sturdy ponies. Their ter
rifed actions can be compared to nothing
less than the simultaneous collision of half
a dozen passenger trains on a down
grade. Madly rushing heller SHELTER they
were utterly disregardless of anything
that happened to lay in their path.
Horns clashed together, producing a
sound not unlike the rapid discharge of
an innumerable number of small firearms.
Bodies ground together like the roaring
Of waters. or scampering of panic stricken
human beings rushing from a burning
tIaotor